Orlando Science High School
Issue 36
Weekly Newsletter: May 15, 2020
A message from Dr. Akin
Principal's Corner
Dear Orca Families and Students,
Thank you for your support of Orlando Science Schools! I hope everyone had a productive week!
We are celebrating our Teacher Appreciation Week beginning May 18th through May 22nd. Be sure to let your teachers know how much you appreciate them this week.
I am pleased to announce that Orlando Science Middle/High is certified as a National School of Character! Congratulations to all students who demonstrate an exemplary attitude, genuine and authentic good character. Orcas, your positive behavior, good character, and role model to each other made this recognition come true. Thank you, all students, staff, families, and community, for demonstrating and promoting good character at OSS!
We have been presented with some unique challenges for the class of 2020. Our seniors are very important to OSS and we are continuing to come up with ways to honor our seniors. We are very excited to announce that we are holding a Senior Send-off on May 30th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Please find the details below.
Orcas, your yearbook is still on sale! If you have not purchased your yearbook yet, you can still do so. The purchase link may be found below.
Please continue following your school’s distance learning plan, guidelines, rules, and procedures carefully. This will help you successfully finish this school year with a good note.
Please take time and review your newsletter with additional reminders and important notes. I wish every Orca stay healthy and connected. Have a great weekend!
It's great to be proud Orca!
Respectfully,
Abdulaziz Yalcin, M.Ed
Principal
Orlando Science Schools-Middle/High
Follow OSS Middle High on Social Media
OSS Middle High is a National School of Character
Character.org has announced that Orlando Science Schools Middle High has been named a 2020 National School of Character!
National certification is the highest level of distinction bestowed by Character.org. Schools receiving this designation have demonstrated excellence in establishing a school culture that exemplifies and brings to life The 11 Principles Framework for Schools: A Guide to Cultivating a Culture of Character.
Thank you to all the students, parents, guardians, teachers, administrators, and staff for working together to make OSS a National School of Character.
teacher appreciation week may 18th-22nd
Congratulations Class of 2020!
Morning Announcements are available on OSS COnnect everyday!
SIGN UP FOR HIGH SCHOOL LOCKER CLEAN OUT
Attention Students: Please use the link below to sign up for a 10-minute time slot to clean out your locker. For your safety and the well-being of our school personnel, there are a few important guidelines you must follow in order to be permitted into the high school building.
Please see them below:
- ONLY STUDENTS are allowed to enter the building-No one else, including parents, siblings, and friends, are allowed to enter the building.
- Students will enter the high school building using the CAFETERIA STAIRWELL ENTRANCE on the 2nd floor. The front office is closed.
- STUDENTS MUST WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR AT ALL TIMES while in the school building. This includes both a mask/face covering and gloves for the hands. Gloves will be provided if needed but we do not have face masks/coverings.
- SOCIAL DISTANCING OF 6 FEET must be observed at all times while in the building.
- Only 10 students will be in the building at one time. Therefore you must arrive a few minutes before your scheduled time.
- It is recommended that students bring a bag or container to carry their belongings.
- Students will EXIT THE BUILDING using the 3rd floor stairwell.
- If school library books or textbooks are being returned, please bring those.
- PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE SCHOOL IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY COVID19 SYMPTOMS WITHIN THE LAST 48 HOURS.
- If you need to cancel, please do so on this sign up or email Mr. Kriebel directly.
Thank you for your participation. If you have questions concerning locker clean-out, please contact Mr. Kriebel.
graduation ceremony 2020 update
Dear Orlando Science Class of 2020 and families,
As we all experience the difficulty that comes with the uncertainty during this time, we would like to let you know that we are thinking of all of you. As a result of the governor’s “Safer-at-Home” order, and with schools being closed through at least May 1st, graduation ceremonies are being postponed within OCPS. With that said, Orlando Science High School’s graduation ceremony has also now been postponed.
During the governor’s press conference on Thursday, April 9th, he had stated that he is not ready to announce a return to school date. His decision is critical to our planning. We would like to engage with our Student Government Association, Class of 2020, and their families to receive input regarding options such as smaller ceremonies inside the school facility, open area ceremonies, and if necessary a virtual ceremony. We understand that this has been a disappointing and unfortunate time however, we also believe in the resiliency of our orca family.
We will announce final graduation plans recognizing our amazing seniors as soon as possible. We will be sure to provide updates as soon as they become available.
Please stay safe.
OSS Event cancellations 2020
Orlando Science Middle/High Charter School will continue to follow the guidance and best practices of Orange County Public Schools regarding the threat of COVID-19. OCPS has developed a Coronavirus Disease 2020 (COVID-19) information page located at the below link.
In accordance with the best practices, the following OSS events have been cancelled:
Prom
GradBash
GradVenture
8th Grade Graduation
Senior Graduation
We are so sorry for any disappointment this causes our students, however their health and safety are our utmost priority. We will continue to communicate changes and new information as quickly as possible.
AP Testing 2020 Update
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian,
We would like to wish all of our AP students the best of luck on the upcoming AP tests. Please see the AP Testing Guide before your child's scheduled AP test. This Testing Guide is an easy-to-read document that contains all the information necessary for your AP student to have a successful testing experience. Click the AP UPDATE link below to read the full details. If you have any additional questions, please contact your AP teacher or Mr. Koebe: Nicholas.Koebe@orlandoscience.org.
2020 AP Testing calendar
FSA/EOC/Final Exam Testing Update
A message from Mr. Koebe
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian,
I hope this message finds you all well. As we continue our distance learning classes, it is important that our students and parents are aware of the changes made to our assessment calendar.
FSA and EOC Testing
Governor Desantis has canceled all state-wide testing for this school year. This means that there will not be any FSA or EOC testing and schools will not be assigned a school grade as has been done in the past.
However, students will still receive grades from their teachers in the fourth quarter and in lieu of a state test, students will have final exams created by their teachers. More information will be communicated by the teachers with you in May regarding these final exams.
For the complete course-specific exam information, as well as any other Florida Assessment questions, please read Mr. Koebe's "Assessment Distance Learning Parent Letter" below.
Virtual social support
A message from Ms. Perez
Hello Friends!
Welcome back to Counseling Corner! This week we’ll be discussing the concept and practice of gratitude. One simple word, usually used once a year in public (November), yet has significant benefits to our lives overall. Let’s get into it!
Gratitude is a practice. It is considered as such because it is most helpful and effective when practiced daily/weekly (like training for a sport, dance, gymnastics, drawing, singing, acting etc.). First, I’ll share with you some benefits of practicing gratitude.
· Practicing gratitude helps us disconnect from toxic, negative emotions and the ruminating that usually accompanies those emotions.
· Practicing gratitude has been linked with better sleep! It has shown to improve not only the duration of sleep but it’s quality too. This effect is heightened when gratitude is practiced within 15-20 minutes of bedtime (i.e. writing in a gratitude journal among other ideas).
· When someone expresses or receives gratitude, dopamine is released in the brain, thus leading to a connection between the behavior and feeling good! The more people practice gratitude, the more often dopamine is released.
· Practicing gratitude is linked to lower blood pressure.
· Practicing gratitude can increase self-esteem and energy, strengthen interpersonal relationships, and improve our mental and emotional health overall.
· Practicing gratitude has been shown to be a protective factor against suicidal ideation and self-harm thoughts.
· Practicing gratitude helps us even when we don’t share it with someone! We’re happier and more satisfied because we’ve completed the exercise.
· Practicing gratitude can increase feelings of connectedness with others.
· Practicing gratitude has been show to improve overall physical health, so it seems practicing gratitude can lead to practicing healthier choices for ourselves in general.
“Okay okay, we get it Ms. Perez, Gratitude is great, now what?”
I’m going to list a few different ways you can practice gratitude; it’s recommended to use these practices at least twice a week to begin seeing benefits. Obviously the more you practice, the easier it becomes, but at least 2-3 times a week is the sweet spot. You can always practice more than that though!
· Writing in a gratitude journal daily (or at least 2 to 3 times a week)
· Write a gratitude letter weekly (you can mail it if you want, but you don’t have to. Just writing it at all is helpful).
· Meditate on gratitude (you can find guided gratitude meditations on YouTube for free).
· Create visual reminders to practice gratitude (post-it notes on your mirror or wall, art pieces, small notes in your planners).
· Acknowledge yourself: Take some time to express gratitude for the things you’ve done or the things you’re proud of. It can be as simple as, “I’m grateful I made it through the day, it was tough but I did it,” or “I’m proud of myself for finishing my to-do list this week!”
BONUS: expressing gratitude for the qualities you admire about yourself can be a huge boost for your self-esteem. This can mean statements like, “I’m grateful that I’m funny,” “I’m grateful that I’m thoughtful with my family and friends,” or “I’m grateful that I can draw.”
· Practice saying “thank you,” in a meaningful way. Include what exactly you’re saying thank you for and how it makes you feel. Here’s an example: “Thank you so much for sharing my fundraising post with your family. It makes me really happy to know I have your support!”
· Write thank you notes 😊
· Make a list of the things, people, and places you are grateful for and either leave it as is or make a collage out of it. Keep the gratitude list in a place where you can easily access it in case you want to add to it or if you need a pick-me-up.
· Practice giving affirmations to people you care about (bonus points if you give them to yourself too!). An affirmation is a positive, short phrase that provides emotional support or encouragement. Here’s a few examples of affirmations: “You are so thoughtful,” “You always make me laugh,” “You always come up with the best solutions,” and, “I admire how open you are about your feelings.”
Practicing gratitude has a ton of benefits and it’s extremely easy to try. I urge you to practice gratitude in any of the ways listed above for 2 weeks, and notice how it affects your mood, your energy levels, your relationships with others, and your relationship with yourself. Ready, set, go!
And as always, I’m here if you need anything!
All the best,
Ms. Perez
Ms. Perez' Quote of the Week
Orange County Library digital material access
2019-2020 Yearbooks are ON SALE!
The 2019-2020 High School Yearbook is on sale for $40! Get your yearbook today and keep your OSS memories forever.
virtual community service opportunities
Dear students and parents,
It has been difficult times for everyone due to Covid-19. Our school will continue in distance learning through the rest of the school year and we will make every effort to ensure our students are on track academically. If you are seeking to earn your community service hours during this time, there are some virtual options available. Here is the list of service ideas that can be performed digitally at non-contact environment while you are at home:
- Tutor students who need help with academic work.
- Make cloth masks and donate them to hospitals, neighbors or community members.
- Contact and help your elementary teacher to read a story to the students.
- Write letters or create art for residents of a local senior center that are not currently allowed guests.
https://www.pointsoflight.org/virtual-volunteering-opportunities/
Steps:
1. Community Service Plan (attached below)
- Community Service Plan should be completed prior to beginning community service hours.
- Develop a written community service plan which address a social problem or concern and how your service will address the community’s needs.
- E-mail your written community service plan to your college counselor for the approval.
- E-mail your written community service plan to your college counselor for the approval.
2. Community Service Hour Log (attached below)
- After approval, start completing your community service hours.
- Log the completed hours into the sheet provided until you are finished.
3. Submission
- Required documents to be submitted upon completion of community service hours.
- Full completed community service form with signatures.
- Completed community service log with signatures.
- A typed, one-page essay describing the following: How your services were beneficial for the community and How you have experienced personal growth as a result of completing community service.
Please contact Mr.I or Ms. Bolat if you need further information or any questions or concerns.
College and Career Courses now in Microsoft Teams
Starting Monday, April 6th, College and Counseling Department will be accessible to students in each grade level via Microsoft Teams to continue providing services remotely. Mr. I and Mrs. Bolat are accessible to both students and parents in the designated times. Please check your emails and Microsoft Teams with the new updates.
Mr. I and Mrs. Bolat
USCG Academy information
The Coast Guard Academy is comprised of a Corps of Cadets of approximately 1,050 students. We pride ourselves in being a small yet diverse campus with nearly 38% of the student body being female, and 36% of the student body being minorities, the highest of all the five major Service Academies. The student to faculty ratio is 8:1 and we are proud to offer students the ability to participate in 25 Division III varsity sports and a number of additional extracurricular activities such as band, vocals, drama, religious groups, and community outreach programs. We are looking for students of character with leadership experience and a strong academic record.
Overall, the entire two hundred weeks of leadership driven experience is valued at nearly $400,000 in educational expenses per student provided at no cost to them or their families. More information can be found at www.uscga.edu.
Robert Gregory Gibson
Admissions Partner
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
DL attendance
Dear Parents and Students,
Thank you for your continued support during our transition time to our distance learning platform. OSS Connect is still our primary platform for digital learning and we are using MicrosoftTeams as a platform to allow for pre-recorded/live sessions and teacher office hour sessions.
Students enrolled in Distance Learning must meet compulsory attendance requirements. During this period of school closures and the implementation of Distance Learning, schools and districts are reminded by the Florida Department of Education that we are required to take attendance, per Florida Statute. A period by period attendance must be taken for the secondary school (Grades 6-12) per FL Statue as well.
The purpose of this memo is to clear up some of the questions about attendance. Students should still be attending all seven of their classes each day, by accessing each of their class pages on OSS Connect between the hours of 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, Monday through Friday. It is imperative that your students check their OSS Connect courses daily as teachers will be posting their announcements, assignments, and other pertinent information on their pages.
The first period survey link that is located in your student’s homeroom classes is a way for the school administration to ensure that students are checking in and will allow for us to easily track who is attending virtual school during the first week of the Distance Learning. Starting from Monday, April 6th, students will NOT complete this form. They will continue to check in by accessing their OSS-Connect courses, following their regular school day course schedules.
If you need assistance during this transition time, you may e-mail DL@orlandoscine.org for technical assistance or your campus administrators.
We thank you for your understanding, support, and patience during this transition. We will continue to monitor communication from the Florida Department of Education and inform our students and parents accordingly.
Sincerely,
Abdulaziz Yalcin, M.Ed.
Easy Ways to give back to OSHS
The BOX TOPS Program is easier than ever to use!
BoxTops has a NEW way for schools to earn money from your purchases! See the details below. Thank you for your support of OSS!
OSS is an Amazon Smile School
This is an easy way to help raise money for Orlando Science Schools. Use the link below when shopping from Amazon. AmazonSmile donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Orlando Science Schools via Discovery Education Services, Inc. whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
Office Depot & Office Max
Office Depot provides the school with 5% back in credits for FREE supplies when you make a purchase of qualifying school supplies. Simply provide the school ID at checkout.
OSES School Code: 70228302
OSS School Code: 70218341
2019-2020 Report Card Dates
Orlando Science High School Campus
Email: info@orlandoscience.org
Website: http://orlandoscience.org/highschool/
Location: 2600 Technology Drive, Orlando, FL, USA
Phone: (407)299-6595
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orlandoscience/
Twitter: @OrlandoSciMH